“Surely the LORD our God has shown us His glory and His greatness, and we have heard His voice from the midst of the fire. We have seen this day that God speaks with man; yet he still lives.” [Deuteronomy 5:24 NKJV] God “has in these last days spoken to us by His Son,” [Hebrews 1:2] and “whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins” (forgiveness of sins) [Acts 10:43] and “should not perish but have eternal life.” [John 3:15]
The book of Deuteronomy contains the last words of Moses to the children of Israel. He reminds them of the deliverance of God from slavery in Egypt. They came out of Egypt to be free to worship the Lord their God and learn to serve their holy God. They came to Mount Sinai for the Lord to speak to them His holy words.
“So it was, when you heard the voice from the midst of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, that you came near to me, all the heads of your tribes and your elders. And you said: ‘Surely the LORD our God has shown us His glory and His greatness, and we have heard His voice from the midst of the fire. We have seen this day that God speaks with man; yet he still lives. Now therefore, why should we die? For this great fire will consume us; if we hear the voice of the LORD our God anymore, then we shall die. … You go near and hear all that the LORD our God may say, and tell us all that the LORD our God says to you, and we will hear and do it.’ ” [Deuteronomy 5:23-25, 27 NKJV]
The Lord God’s presence was so holy the people feared death knowing their uncleanness in sin. For God had told them that no man should see His face and live. [Exodus 33:20]. This same fear now falls upon them as they hear the Lord’s voice and know the closeness of His presence. They understood that man could hear and not die at the voice of the Lord.
However, the holiness of God was so bright and frightful, they feared for their very life. In response to this holy fear in the presence of a holy God, they asked Moses to go before God and bring God’s word back to them. Moses would now be God’s prophet, speaking God’s word to the people. The people promised to obey the word Moses brought from the mouth of God. And so God’s word would come to God’s people through prophets.
“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things.” [Hebrews 1:1-2]
Then the time came when God would once again speak to His people face to face. He did so in His Son, Jesus Christ.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. … And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” [John 1:1, 14]
This Word of God in Jesus Christ came to speak face to face with God’s people so they might know Him. As they know Him, believe upon Him so that they might no longer fear their uncleanness of sin, but receive forgiveness (remission) of their sins through Jesus.
“To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.” [Acts 10:43]
For as God, Jesus, had eternal life to give to whoever believes in Him.
“whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” [John 3:15]
We no longer hear God’s word through His prophets; God has spoken His Word in His Son. In believing the words of the Son of God, fear of death is removed for God forgives the sin of all those who believe in His Son. Hear Him today.
“Surely the LORD our God has shown us His glory and His greatness, and we have heard His voice from the midst of the fire. We have seen this day that God speaks with man; yet he still lives.” [Deuteronomy 5:24 NKJV] God “has in these last days spoken to us by His Son,” [Hebrews 1:2] and “whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins” (forgiveness of sins) [Acts 10:43] and “should not perish but have eternal life.” [John 3:15]
Valerie Graham 